September 11, 2005 Newsletter

Issue #388

Telecare: 9:00 a.m. 365 days a year
bethany.crc@verizon.net
bethanychurchmuskegon.org
Office: 725-7325
Office Hours:
Mon. - Thurs. 9:00 - 3:30
Closed Friday & Saturday

Now is the time to establish a daily life of prayer.

Ladies!
You and your friends are invited to Women's Fellowship each Thursday at 2:00 PM
for a lively discussion of Genesis, led by Pastor Dave. There is no upper or
lower age limit- we can all learn from each other. If you have school aged
children, you can be home in time to greet them. We'd love to welcome you at
our first meeting on Sept. 15th!

Children and Worship Open House
Children and Worship Open House will be after the morning worship, downstairs
in room 14. It will be a short time for anyone interested in the Children's
Worship. Please join us!

AmeriCorps Service Opportunity
Bethany Church has a 12-month, full-time position in community development in
the McLaughlin neighborhood. This position was made possible by a grant secured
by CRWRC from AmeriCorps, a federal program which engages 50,000 Americans age
17 and older in a year of intensive service to meet community needs in
education, the environment, public safety and homeland security. The successful
applicant will identify resources and priorities among residents of the
Bethany/McLaughlin neighborhood and develop improvement projects and programs
with residents. See bethanychurchmuskegon.org for a position description and
application form, or contact Pastor David Sieplinga for more information.
Application deadline: Sept. 23, 2005.

Bethany Family
Home: Aylia Yeck
Prayers are asked for baby Abigail Kanaar
Prayers are asked for Frederic Bey, who is under a lot of emotional pressure.
Also pray for Mattie Burns, who is in poor health.
* If you have a prayer request you would like to put in this newsletter, please
give copy to Laurie in the office by Wednesday noon, or fill out a request card
and place it in the Prayer Request Box on the Literature Table in the foyer.

Help Needed!
Some of our transparency volunteers are going off to college and we could use a
couple more pairs of hands. You should be in high school or older and some
musical ability is helpful, but not necessary. If interested, please see Mrs.
Gail Hall.

Attention Singers!
Choir is beginning a new season of praise to God with a rehearsal today at
11:30 AM. All singers high school age and above are invited to join us in the
choir room.

Church School Staff
Commissioning and Kick Off
Celebration will be Sept. 18.

Special Birthday Honors to Those 80 and Over
We wish a special birthday to Florence Saunders and Marian DeYoung. Florence
will be 85 on Sept. 15 and Marian will be 83 on Sept. 16, 2005. On Sept. 20,
Ray Ploughman will celebrate his 86th birthday. Dr. Mary Klesner celebrates her
87th birthday on Sept. 21. Celia Winter and Lyle Kingshott share their
birthdays on Sept. 22. Celia will be 88 and Lyle will be 81. Happy Birthday to
all of you from your Bethany family!

Ministry Opportunities for September 18
Greeters: Rog & Geri Langeland, Anne Rose, Florence Saunders
Ushers: Art Brown, Mike Abbott, Jim Dephouse, Bob Heethuis
Coffee Fellowship: Judy Hepler, Marcia Fultz
Transparency: Katie Sytsema
Reader: Joan Workman
Lectionary: Jonah 3:10-4:11; Ps. 145:1-8; Phil. 1:21-30; Matt. 20:1-16
Offering Opportunities: General Fund and Bethany Christian Education Society
Nursery Today: Ilene Rosales, Betty Gould, Bryant Westra
Nursery Sept. 18: Melissa Deans, Amy Varnado, Kayla Deans

Birthdays This Week
Sept. 13 Miriam Schaafsma
Sept. 14 Bob Sytsema
Sept. 15 Sirrah Bey
Florence Saunders
Sept. 16 Marian DeYoung
Birthdays Next Week
Sept. 19 Paul Burbridge
Michael Sodini
Sept. 20 Ray Ploughman
Cameron Brown
Sept. 21 Jamie Abbott
Mary Anderegg
Dr. Mary Klesner
Sept. 22 Elise Hinken
Celia Winter
Lyle Kingshott
Sept. 23 Dick Miller
Sept. 24 Linda Ahumada

The birthdays listed are from the information we currently have in our
" membership list". Should your birthday be recorded incorrectly or not appear,
please contact the office @725-7325. Should you wish to send cards but do not
have current addresses, please call the office as well.

CADETS
Come out and enjoy the fun and new events at the Musk-O-Tawa Field Day,
September 16-17 at Luke Springstead's property 2996 W. Giles Road. Bring your
counselor and join us for a great time!

Thank You!
We received $1,269.00 for the Benevolence Fund on Sunday, Sept. 4. This will
help people in dire need. God bless you! Tom & the Deacons

Collection Schedule
Sept. 18 Gen. Fund/BCES
Sept. 25 Gen. Fund /Property Improvements

CROP Walk 2005
A compelling reason to participate in the 2005 CROP Walk, October 2nd!
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina staggers our imagination and
burdens our hearts -- so much loss of innocent life. Stirred by compassion,
millions of people want to respond to the suffering. The Muskegon CROP Walk is
one way that YOU can do something to help. Besides the contributions that are
earmarked for local Muskegon agencies, the contributions that are received this
year will, in large part, go to Church World Service's Hurricane Recovery
Program.Contributions can also be designated for CRWRC and its Hurricane
Relief Fund. Get involved this year! It is Bethany's goal this year to double
the number of walkers from last year. That means Bethany needs 40 walkers! Sign
up and pick up your packets downstairs. Questions? Talk to Sarah.

From Girl Scout troops to the federal government, in ways great and small,
individuals and groups are reaching out to help. Church World Service is
grateful to be one vehicle of that heartfelt response. The contributions we
receive to our Hurricane Recovery appeal are helping us respond to both the
immediate needs and the long-term recovery of these shattered communities. It
is important to remember, however, that the reason CWS is able to make such a
swift and effective response to this disaster (within hours) is in large part
because of the on-going support raised by communities across this nation
through CROP WALKS.

Christian School News
MCS Harvest Fest dinner and auction will be held at Calvin CRC (973 W. Norton
Ave). Reserve Friday, October 28 for our 5th Annual Fundraising Event! Our goal
is $20,000! This year a pig roast, auction, and supervised children?s
activities will be held again to help MCS raise funds.?Needed: Food preparation
team for October 28 at Calvin CRC (contact Lisa Dadd at 821-0206); some bold
volunteers who love to ask for donations; and auction items such as vacations,
timeshares, golf outings, recreation and lawn equipment, etc. Call Tara at
231-773-3221, ext. 110 if you or your business would like to donate time or
auction items.
Need to renew some magazines? Want to get a head start on your holiday
shopping? Muskegon Christian School students can help! Ask an elementary school
student (KE-5) to see the catalog of gift ideas, Worlds Finest chocolates,
gift-wrap, and more.?See a middle school student (6-8) to renew your magazine
subscriptions and order some new ones. Both sales will run from September 1-16
and these are the main student fundraisers for the 2005-2006 school year.?
MCS receives 40-50% of the proceeds, so get ready to shop!
Muskegon Christian School offers all-day child care for children ages 2 and
up. We also offer after-school care. What a great way to save gas money by
dropping off or picking up your kids all in one place!
Please contact Jan Westerhof at 231-773-3221, ext. 250.

Hurricane Katrina
The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee is attempting to raise $5 million
to deploy rapid response teams [already on site] and provide funding for
long-term reconstruction in areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. To donate:
ONLINE: www.crwrc.org
Mail: Please mark your check, ?Hurricanes 2005? payable to:
CRWRC-US
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49560
Ph: 1-800-55-CRWRC

Looking for Songbirds & Pianists, Etc.
The Hume Home is looking for songbirds, pianists... musical performers of any
kind to come into our wonderful home and entertain the troops! Call Elizabeth
Colligan at 755 to volunteer at the Hume Home.

Love INC Notes
Sept. 20th is Love INC Volunteer Banquet. Join us as we share how God is
working in our ministries. More details to come.
Sept. 27th, Love Charity Golf Outing - Call Gail for registration form
773-3448.
Love INC asks that you prayerfully consider your response to the victims of
Hurricane Katrina. We are collecting blankets, bedding, towels and other
household goods for the victims. Love INC will ensure that these items are
delivered to the victims.
Love INC encourages those who are able to volunteer with the Red Cross,
Salvation Army, International Aid or other agencies and/or ministries. We would
be happy to connect you with an agency/ministry that can use your area of
expertise. Call Gail at 773-3448.